Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A disaster detection system, comprising: a device processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions executable by the device processor to perform the following steps: receiving data from a plurality of geographically distributed personal electronic devices; determining, based on the data received from the personal electronic devices, that a disaster has occurred; sending information pertaining to the disaster to one or more of the personal electronic devices; determining location information of the disaster based on the data received from the personal electronic devices; and sending different information pertaining to the disaster to different personal electronic devices, based on the location information of the disaster, depending on the location of each personal electronic device with respect to the disaster.
A disaster detection system leverages data from geographically distributed personal electronic devices to identify and respond to disasters. The system uses a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium to execute instructions for receiving data from these devices, analyzing the data to detect a disaster, and then disseminating relevant information to the devices. The system determines the location of the disaster based on the collected data and tailors the information sent to each device according to its proximity to the disaster. For example, devices closer to the disaster may receive urgent evacuation instructions, while those farther away may receive general alerts or preparedness guidance. The system dynamically adjusts the information sent to each device based on real-time location data, ensuring that users receive contextually appropriate responses. This approach enhances disaster response by providing localized, actionable information to affected individuals.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data received from the plurality of personal electronic devices includes at least one of gyroscope data and accelerometer data.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data received from the plurality of personal electronic devices includes global positioning system (GPS) data.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the disaster is an earthquake and the location information includes the location of the epicenter of the earthquake.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium further includes instructions for determining the magnitude of the earthquake based on the data received from the plurality of geographically distributed personal electronic devices.
The invention relates to earthquake detection and magnitude estimation using data from geographically distributed personal electronic devices. The system addresses the challenge of rapidly detecting and assessing earthquakes by leveraging existing mobile devices equipped with sensors, such as accelerometers, to collect seismic data. This approach provides a cost-effective and scalable alternative to traditional seismic networks, which rely on dedicated, expensive sensors. The system includes a network of personal electronic devices, such as smartphones or tablets, that continuously or periodically collect seismic data from their built-in sensors. This data is transmitted to a central processing unit, which analyzes the signals to detect seismic events. The system further includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions for processing the received data to determine the magnitude of the detected earthquake. The magnitude estimation is based on the collective data from multiple devices, improving accuracy by accounting for spatial variations in seismic wave propagation. The system may also include a database for storing historical seismic data, allowing for comparative analysis and trend identification. Additionally, the system can generate alerts or notifications to users or authorities based on the detected earthquake magnitude, enabling timely response efforts. By utilizing widely available personal devices, the system enhances earthquake monitoring capabilities without requiring extensive infrastructure investments.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information pertaining to the disaster includes at least one of: an escape route for users of the one or more personal electronic devices; an identification of shelter for users of the one or more personal electronic devices; an identification of resources for users of the one or more personal electronic devices; and one or more warning messages for users of the one or more personal electronic devices.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information pertaining to the disaster includes: one or more commands to operate features of the one or more personal electronic devices.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more commands include instructions to operate the one or more personal electronic devices to perform at least one of the following: recording ambient noise; recording data from phone sensors; producing a siren sound; silencing one or more sound emitting functions; turning on phone lights; and turning off phone lights.
9. A disaster detection system, comprising: a device processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions executable by the device processor to perform the following steps: receiving data from a plurality of geographically distributed personal electronic devices; determining, based on the data received from the personal electronic devices, that a disaster has occurred; sending one or more commands pertaining to the disaster to regulate operation of one or more control systems in a geographic area affected by the disaster; and sending different commands pertaining to the disaster to different control systems, based on the location information of the disaster, depending on the location of each control system with respect to the disaster.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more commands pertaining to the disaster include instructions for regulating operation of one or more building systems.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more building systems include at least one of door locks, window locks; elevators; lights; and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more commands pertaining to the disaster include instructions for regulating operation of one or more transportation systems.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more transportation systems include at least one of traffic lights, roadway management, public transportation, and air traffic control.
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more commands pertaining to the disaster include instructions for regulating operation of one or more public utilities.
15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the data received from the plurality of personal electronic devices includes global positioning system (GPS) data.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium further includes instructions for determining location information of the disaster based on the GPS data.
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February 23, 2021
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